The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three sections: theory, pool sessions, and open water dives. First, students receive all necessary information about the underwater environment, scuba diving equipment, basic techniques, and skills to dive safely. During pool classes, you'll practice all the skills usedon open water dives ─like ear equalization and mask removal and replacement ─in acontrolled environment before entering the open water. Finally,apply yourknowledge and new skills onopen water dives under the watchful eye of a PADI-certified instructor.
Day 1 starts witha morning transfer from your hotel in Playa del Carmen to the dive center. After afirst lecture and the viewing of a training video, you'll get acquainted with your equipmentand have about 2 hours ofpractice in the pool before returning to your hotel in the afternoon.
Day 2 takes you tothe open CasaCenote for an initial1-hour dive after a safety briefing. Following a break and another briefing, you'll take a second 1.5-hour dive, then return to the dive center for a discussion and a second lecture. In the afternoon, you're returned to your hotel.
Day 3 beginswith a morningtransfer from your hotel to the marina. Board the boat for a briefing, followed by a first open water dive. After about an hour, take a break before a secondbriefing and dive in the clearwaters of the Caribbean Sea. After returning to the dive center for your final exam (about 1 hour), you're dropped-off at your hotel.
Note: The PADI certification is recognized worldwide and is valid for life. Having achieved it, you are qualified to dive at any dive center in the world up to a maximum depth of 60 feet (18 meters).